Chitosan scaffold enhances nerve regeneration within the in vitro reconstructed bladder wall: an animal study.
BACKGROUND
The function of reconstructed bladder depends on the contracting bladder wall. This can be obtained with a proper innervating segment. Polyglycolic acid (PGA) is used as cell vehicle. Chitosan supported the adhesion and differentiation of neurons. The aim of the study was to compare PGA with PGA/chitosan 'sandwich' grafts for bladder regeneration.


METHODS
3T3 fibroblasts were seeded on 6 PGA and on 3 chitosan scaffolds and incubated for 3 days at 37 degrees C in 5% CO(2) before implantation. Three rats underwent bladder reconstruction with PGA cell-seeded grafts and 3 with PGA grafts covered with chitosan cell-seeded grafts ('sandwich' graft). Three rats in the control group were not operated. After 6 months, reconstructed tissue was stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Neurons were identified by synaptophysin and neuron-specific enolase staining.


RESULTS
No complications were noticed. PGA/chitosan grafts were evaluated as (+++) and (++), while PGA grafts were evaluated as (++) and (+) with use of synaptophysin antibody. The control group was evaluated as (+). PGA/chitosan grafts were evaluated as (++) and (+), while PGA grafts were evaluated as (++) and (+) in neuron-specific enolase staining. The control group was evaluated as (+).


CONCLUSIONS
Chitosan improved PGA's abilities as a cell matrix and in guiding neurons into the graft.
Drewa
Tomasz
T
Department of Tissue Engineering, N. Copernicus University, Bydgoszcz, Poland. tomaszdrewa@wp.pl
Adamowicz
Jan
J
Lysik
Joanna
J
Polaczek
Jolanta
J
Pielichowski
Jan
J
D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D048271:Chitosan; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000637:transplantation*; D051379:Mice; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D009852:Omentum / Q000294:innervation; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000032:analysis; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D051381:Rats; D016708:Synaptophysin / Q000032:analysis; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000294:innervation / Q000601:surgery
D016708:Synaptophysin; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D048271:Chitosan; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase